"Mental Fitness For Fitness" with Becca Messenger

​In this episode of The BOLO Podcast, we speak with Becca Messenger about how to get more focused and intense with your workouts. We also introduce you to our new intern, Ms. Madison.

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Show Take-Aways

​Played volleyball and trained for LA Marathon

Started CrossFit about 8 years ago

Became a CrossFit Trainer

You have to really deeply want it that your fitness takes priority over other things you "have to do"

Prefaces newcomers with understanding it's not easy getting into shape

Two ways of being successful; Health reasons or driven to alter physical appearance

Be a model for children; If they see you working out, they'll want to do it to

Lack of time is one of the biggest excuses

When you see changes, you start deciding to make more effort

Mindset - If you don't push yourself to a deep level, you may not feel that you're working out

Resources

Nutrition/Fitness Tip - Stress

This week's nutrition/fitness tip from Tamrin Olden

Stress has a huge correlation with fitness and overall health, especially for those in law enforcement.

Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. It can be positive like buying a new house, going on vacation or a job change...or negative like financial problems, divorce, health problems, loss of a loved one or for our law enforcement family, those rough calls for service.

Stress can affect all aspects of your life - mental, emotional and physical; no part of the body is immune. But, because people handle stress differently, symptoms of stress can vary. Being moody, withdrawn or depressed, low energy, digestive problems, headaches, muscle pain, inability to focus, poor judgment, overeating or undereating, drug and alcohol abuse and cardiovascular disease.

Those symptoms can be debilitating and problematic in your personal, social and professional life. 108 officers committed suicide in the United States in 2016. California led the nation in such deaths, followed by New York. The average age of a police suicide was again 42 years and the average time on the job was 17 years. Sergeants and above accounted for 22 percent of law enforcement suicides; five were chiefs. 87 percent were males and a gunshot was the most common means (80 percent).

​Stress can't be avoided but it can be managed.

Set aside leisure time

Do something you enjoy every day.

Keep your sense of humor.

Don't over-commit yourself.

Prioritize tasks.

Get adequate sleep.

Eat a healthy diet.

Exercise - even if it's for 20 minutes

Training and awareness are so important and although it's becoming more common there's a long way to go when it comes to creating normalcy with stress management and mental health in the law enforcement profession. There are resources out there if you need help and it's normal to deal with symptoms of stress, your human. If you see someone out there who may be withdrawn or overwhelmed - don't hesitate to reach out, you may be their only lifeline.

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